Former West Ham and Liverpool misfits help club make best start since 1960, title charge mooted
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For supporters of West Ham United and Liverpool, the moods could hardly have been more contrasting heading into this weekend following very different starts to the new campaign.
TBR understands that pressure is rising on West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui already amid a testing start to the new campaign.
Liverpool, meanwhile, won an eighth game out of nine as Arne Slot’s team beat Bologna in the Champions League in midweek. A ninth victory in ten would arrive three days later as Diogo Jota fired the Reds past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
And, on the subject of historic stars, Monaco have flown out of the blocks themselves in the first few weeks of 2024/25.
Adi Hutter’s side might have been a little unconvincing last time out, defeating a struggling, ten-man Strasbourg by the odd goal in three. But with five wins and a draw from their six Ligue 1 matches, this is now officially Monaco’s best start to a top-flight campaign since 1960/61.
Former West Ham and Liverpool men helping inspire Monaco success
While Monaco may lack the generational talent of former stars Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva these days, there are some similarities between this modern vintage and the one which stunned Paris Saint-Germain while reaching the Champions League semi-finals seven years ago.
The outstanding 2016/17 squad was a mix of brilliant youngsters and more experienced campaigners.
Whether Maghnes Akliouche or Eliesse Ben Seghir can ever be mentioned in the same breath as Mbappe, only time will tell.
TBR have been told that Newcastle United are watching Akliouche, their sporting director Paul Mitchell a former Monaco employee.
But, like Leonardo Jardim’s Ligue 1-winning squad, Hutter can also lean on a few more grizzled squad members when his rising stars endure an odd off-day.
Thilo Kehrer was sold by West Ham to Monaco this summer to the tune of £9.5 million. And he could yet prove to be as invaluable as any of his more vaunted Monaco team-mates.
The versatile defender can play anywhere across the last line. Kehrer even captained Montpellier during their 3-1 win over Le Havre in September.
Former Liverpool benchwarmer Takumi Minamino, meanwhile, has enjoyed a new lease of life in the Principality.
The Japan international was an extra in a star-studded Liverpool cast. He is relishing the role of a leading man at Monaco, however, picking up where he left off during a terrific 2023/24 campaign with a winner on the opening day against St Etienne.
Takumi Minamino and Thilo Kehrer loving life in France
Secure a sixth win in seven Ligue 1 games against Rennes in Saturday’s late kick off, and Monaco can leapfrog PSG in top spot.
Not that Kehrer is getting carried away just yet.
“Monaco’s goal this season? Win the championship! I’m joking,” Kehrer tells L’Equipe, playing down the Monegasque’s title ambitions albeit while putting a lid on their ambitions.
“We’re not going to say no, but I like us to stay calm. It’s good to have high goals, to be ambitious, but without putting too much pressure on ourselves.
“Our team is young. I think we can go further than many people think. Afterwards, we have to focus on things that made us stronger, that allowed us to be in Europe this season.”
